PH
A 17-year-old female asked:
Why did patent ductus arteriosus commonly left open?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 48 years experience
Confusing question: A PDA is an energy saving bypass used in the developing fetus to send most of the hearts blood flow to the body rather than the lungs before birth. After birth, the rise in blood oxygen content usually triggers the bypass to close.It remains open in some cases & can create problems in later life. Closure by medicine, catheter or surgery is the common practice in the us by school age.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Alex Goldenanswered
24 years experience
Not left open: The PDA will generally close on its own within the first couple days of life. If it does not close on its own and it is big enough to be audible with the stethoscope, then we generally close it at some point in childhood. If it is big enough to cause problems in infancy, then we close it sooner, usually with surgery. Sometimes it is kept open temporarily in complex congenital heart disease.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 46-year-old member asked:
What are the tests for patent ductus arteriosus?
2 doctor answers • 15 doctors weighed in
Dr. Sarah Cuevaanswered
Pediatrics 23 years experience
Echocardiogram: An ultrasound of the heart, called an echocardiogram, can detect patent ductus arteriosus. This would generally be done by a cardiologist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
When do you worry about a patent ductus arteriosus?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ed Friedlanderanswered
Pathology 46 years experience
Seldom: In a child whose ductus has not closed, the decision to try to induce closure with medication, or to ligate, is made by the physicians. An older child's patent ductus missed in infancy may be picked up as a murmur; it is not subtle, and usually needs treatment to prevent damage to the lungs and to enable junior to keep up in sports.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
1 comment
Dr. Ed Friedlander commented
Pathology 46 years experience
Provided original answer
To clarify -- there's almost never a need to "worry" this will be a long-term threat to health. There's much that can't be put into 400 words, and I agree with my colleague's suggestion that this be fixed by school age at the latest
Sep 11, 2012
A 33-year-old member asked:
What?Causes ?The patent ductus arteriosus?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Joshua Murphyanswered
Pediatric Cardiology 21 years experience
Causes the PDA: The PDA is a critical vessel that allows the blood to bypass the lungs and get to the placenta while babys are still inside, in mom's uterus. The lungs are full of amniotic fluid and don't do any gas exchange (o2 delivery and co2 release)
eveyone is born with a pda, it persists... Open (patent) most commonly in premature babies.
There is no absolute answer as to why it stays open in some people.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
What are the symptoms of patent ductus arteriosus?
1 doctor answer • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Several symptoms. : A (p)persistent (d)ductus (a) allows blood to be shunted from the aorta to the pulmonary artery therefore causing more blood to go to the lungs. If the PDA is large, the increased blood flow to the lungs will determine a faster rate and work of breathing, the heart will enlarge and failure to thrive (grow appropriately). A PDA can and should be closed by a cardiologist or surgeon.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Matthias Peuster commented
Pediatrics - Cardiology 11 years experience
Should be closed depending on the size of the ductus.
Dec 16, 2012
A 36-year-old member asked:
How do?You ?Treat patent ductus arteriosus?
3 doctor answers • 14 doctors weighed in
Dr. Joshua Murphyanswered
Pediatric Cardiology 21 years experience
PDA Age Dependent?: Pda closure (age dependent)
1. Premature infants (medical therapy vs surgical ligation by a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon)
2. Babies to adults:
cath lab closure, using a coil or device.
Many different types and sizes of coils are available, delivered from a small catheter which is inserted in the femoral artery or vein.
Another option for large pdas is an aga PDA device or vascular plug.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Nov 28, 2017
People also asked
Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
$44 video appointments with $19/month membership*
*Billed $57 every 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Disclaimer:
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.
